Combined belt buckle and container



April 1930- J. B. WITHERS 1,753,765

COMBINED BELT BUCKLE AND CONTAINER Filed April 16. 1927 IN V EN TOR. J 5 Mm! A TTORNEYQ,

Patented Apr. 8, 1930 Jonn B. wrrnnns, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA COMBINED BELT BUCKLE Ann CONTAINER Application filed April 16,

My invention relates to a belt buckle providing a container suitable for use as a match box or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having a removable and closed receptacle as a part thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, having the receptacle thereof water-tight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having particularly simple means for securing and retaining the receptacle.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of thespecification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings,

Figures 1 and 2 are front and rear perspective views respectively showing the device mounted on a belt.

Figure 3 is a sectional front view of the device.

Essentially, and as herewith particularly disclosed, the device of my invention comprises a belt buckle structure 4 providing a cavity 5 in which is removably mounted a box or container 6 for matches or other small articles. As here shown, the cavity 5 is rectangular and is defined by a front wall 7, a back wall 8, top and bottom walls 9 and 11 respectively, and opposed end walls 12 and 13. Extending rearwardly from opposed points on the top and bottom walls 9 and 11 are ears 1%, such ears providing a mounting for a pivoted member 15 to which one end of a belt 16 is arranged to be attached and which provides a belt gripping portion 17 arranged to releasably engage the other end of the belt between it and the back wall 8 in a well understood manner, it being noted that the exact forms of members 15 and 1927. Serial No. 184,189.

17 are immaterial, as their specific structures form no part of the present invention. As here shown, the ears 1A are disposed adjacent one end of the structure, While extending from the other ends of the walls 9 and 11 is a second setof cars 18, such ears having their outer portions bent inwardly in a common plane to define a guideway for the belt between their portions 18 and the wall. Preferably, and as here shown, the height of the buckle structure thus provided is substantially the same as the width of the belt whereby the device does not appreciably overlap the belt at the top or bottom thereof.

' The box 6, it will now be noted, is arranged for removable engagement in the cavity 5, andis adapted to be inserted in and removed from the cavity through an opening 19 of suitable size provided in a wall of the cavity. Preferably and as here shown, the opening 19 for the box is provided in the end wall 13, which wall constitutes the ri ht hand end of the structure with respect to a wearer of the belt. As here shown, the end 21 of the box is arranged to engage in and provide a complete closure for the opening 19 when the box is fixed in its mounted position in the device. Since the box is particularly designed for use in the carrying of matches, it is particularly desirable that its contents be sealed against moisture. As here shown, the box is provided with a lid 22 hinged to the lower box edge 23 and having a resilient gasket 24 disposed therein and arranged to bear against the box rim 25 when the lid is closed. Means are preferably provided for insuring a tightly sealed'engagementof the lid with the box, and as here shown, such means comprises the use of a-locking bar 26 pivoted to the box at the opposite side thereof from the hinge of the lid and disposable between lugs 27 extending from the adjacent lid portion. The bar 25, it will be noted, is threaded and is provided with a thumb nut 27 which is arranged, when screwed, up on the barwhen the latter is between the lugs 27, to bear against the lugs and so force the lid to a tightly sealed engageinent with the box rim.

It will now be noted that when the box is disposed in the cavity, the lower edge 23 thereof is arranged to slidably engage the wall 11, and the upper edge of the box is spaced from the wall 9 by an amount at least as great as the depth of the locking means provided by the bar 26 and lugs 27, while the opening 19 is appropriately extended upward whereby the removal of the box therethrough may be permitted.

hleans are provided for securing the box in releasably locked position in the cavity 5, and as here shown, such means comprises a spring 28 fixed to the wall 11 and having mounted thereon a detent member 29 extending into the cavity through a perforation provided in the wall. The spring 28, it will be noted, is arranged to urge the detent to maintain its position of protrusion into the cavity and is here shown provided with a member 31 extending outwardly of the wall 11 whereby a movement of such portion away from the wall, as by the insertion of a finger nail thereunder, will withdraw the detent 29 from the cavity, it being obvious, however, that the structure of the detent mounting herewith particularly shown and described may be varied somewhat without departing from the spirit of my invention. Fixed to the wall 12 at the inner end of the cavity 5 is a spring 32, such spring being arranged to so engage the inner end of the box 6 as to resiliently resist its proper disposition in the cavity-as here shown, spring 32 is of the leaf type and is engaged by the box lid 22. Formed in the lower edge 23 of the box in position to register with the detent 29 when the box end 21 registers with the opening 19, is a suitable detent receiving notch 33 so disposed that when the box is inserted in the cavity and pressed inwardly to its desired position, the detent 29 will engage in notch 33 y to hold the box fixed in the cavity against the resistance of'spring 32. To release the box, it is merely necessary to appropriately manipulate the member 31 associated with the detent spring mounting 28 to withdraw the detent, whereby the box 6 will be projected somewhat from the cavity by action of the spring 32 and may be grasped for removal.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a moisture proof openable box, a belt buckle providing a receptacle for the slidable reception of said box longitudinally through an end thereof, means for releasably fixing said box in said receptacle, and means on said box providing aclosure for said receptacle when said box is fixed therein.

2. In a device of the character described, a closed box, a belt buckle providing a receptacle having an opening in the end wall thereof to permit the removable extension of said box into the receptacle in substantially fitted relation, a closure for the opening of said wall forming a wall of said box and arranged to be operatively disposed in said perforation when said box is substantially entirely disposed in said receptacle, cooperative detent means on said member and box operative to releasably retain said box in said receptacle with said closure operatively disposed, and means operative to resiliently urge said box longitudinally outwardly through said opening, whereby said box will be projected outwardly of the receptacle upon the release of said detent means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Oakland, California, this 31st day of March, 1927.

JOHN B. WITHERS. 

